August has shown more hot days

The weather varied from cold nights with frost in the beginning of August to the latest hot day recorded in Lapland and heavy rainfall, according to the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI).

Precipitation levels for the whole summer were less than half of the normal amount. There were 26 hot days in total which is more than usual.

According to the statistics of the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the average temperature in August was close to the long-term average (1981–2010). The average temperature in the western parts of the country was slightly above the average, while in the east it was slightly below the average.

However, the average does not represent the whole truth, as the month started in cool weather and many cold nights with frost were recorded even in the southern parts of the country. The lowest temperature of the month, minus 3.5 degrees Celsius, was recorded in Vuotso, Sodankylä, on August 10.

Towards the end of the month, the weather clearly warmed up, and temperatures exceeded 25 degrees even in Lapland. The warmest temperature (25.3 degrees Celsius) measured in Rovaniemi on August 29 is the latest hot day recorded in Lapland.

The highest temperature in the whole country in August, 28.1 degrees, was recorded at the Kokkola-Pietarsaari Airport. The highest number of hot days, four days in total, was recorded in Hattula.

There was a great deal of regional variation in precipitation levels, which is very typical. However, generally August saw lower precipitation levels than usual in most parts of the country. The driest areas were the eastern parts of the country and Eastern Lapland, where the precipitation levels were less than half of the typical amount of rainfall in August.

Despite the drought, local heavy rains also occurred in August. For example, in Pori on August 8 it rained up to 34.7 millimetres in an hour, which caused some significant damage. In Kaisaniemi, Helsinki, it rained 62.5 millimetres within the period of 24 hours on August 23. The heavy rainfall on that day also caused plenty of material damage.

The highest level of precipitation in August, 115.3 mm, was measured in Kemiönsaari, Kemiö. It rained the least in Värriötunturi, Salla, 18.3 mm.

Only about 16,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes were observed in August. The long-term average is almost 30,000.